Benjamin f



B. l". BAIN.

TOY.

APPLICATION FILED MMI. 2u. 191B.

1,314,238. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

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lllllul 3,3 HHIIIIIIHII I I I INVENTQR "I I @+I 34 34 maa@ Bay am J J Wax/$417@ B. F. BAIN.

TOY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2R. ma.

1,8 14,238. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

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34- 33 34 INVENTon www @M67 6AM 96W PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. BAIN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOY.

Application led March 28, 1918.

To all 'whom it may concer/lz.'

Be it known that I, BIcNJAMrN F. BAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a clear and exact description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys, and has reference more particularly to that type in which marbles or portions of material such as for example, sand., are intermittently delivered to and employed to actuate the toy by gravity. It has for its primary object to provide a toy having an elevator bucket constructed and arranged to be automatically raised and lowered toward and from the loading chute, together with means for positively ejecting the load carried by the bucket when in lowered position, thereby releasing the bucket which is again hoisted, to receive another load. A further object of the invention consists in arranging certain component parts'of the toy so that it may be readily folded in a comparatively small space when not in use, and as easily packed. These, together with such objects as may hereinafter appear, or are incident to my invention, I attain by means of a construction illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy embodying my invention, and in which the bucket is shown intermediate its raised and lowered positions; Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same, the inclined chute being shown in transverse section taken along the line II-II of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the supporting frame of Fig. 1 along the line III-IIL looking in the direction of the arrows in said ligure; Fig. 4 represents a detailed sectional view of the basal portion of the toy illustrating the means for relieving the bucket of its load; and Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views of the inclined chute and discharging mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the base 7 is provided with two pairs of standards 8 and 8, circular in cross-section, and disposed in parallelism, each pair of standards preferably comprising a single rod bent at its central portion to assume the position as shown.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Serial No. 225,203.

The bent central portion in each case thus forms a top member 9 and both project outwardly in a horizontal plane to support a cross-head 10 formed with depending terminal portions l1 slotted so that these portions may be sprung over rebent portions 12 of the top members 9, the lower ends of the standards being secured to the base 7 and thereby producing a rigid frame or support.

The numeral 13 designates an inclined chute, channel shaped in c1'oss-section,whose lower inner end is provided with a downwardly opening discharge hopper 14 disposed beneath the cross-head 10. 'lhe inner end of the chute extends intermediately of two of the standards and is supported in its inclined relation by a pair of spring arms 15 *which have their lower ends pivotally carried by a bar 16 mounted on said standards, and have their upper ends formed with abutlnents that may be sprung into apertures provided in the side walls of the chute 13. As a further means of support the inner end of the chute is provided with outwardly projecting ears 17 terminally formed with key-hole slots 18 and through which extends a vertically disposed thin cross-bar 19 extending between the other two standards. The numeral 20 designates a revoluble member which is carried on an axle or shaft 21 supported preferably by the U- shaped standard 22, riveted or otherwise attached at its bent basal portion to the head 10.

The numeral 24 indicates an elevator bucket which is provided at each side with spaced guide flanges 25, so arranged that the bucket may receive guided movement from the standards 8 in its slidable ascent thereon toward the discharge hopper 1-1 and in its descent therefrom toward a positive ejecting member 26 disposed directly in the path of bucket travel. The bucket is provided with a bail arm 27 and is flexibly connected by a cord 2S to a countcrweight 29 which is also flanged at its sides at 30 for guided travel upon the standards 8a in a direction opposite to that of the bucket.

. Preferably the cord is passed through the slots 23 in the cross-head and about the revoluble member 2O in order to assure ease and guidance in the raising and lowering of the bucket.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, it will be seen that I provide the feo base with a short downwardly inclined chute 81 disposed at one side of the ejecting membei- 26 and within the pairs of standards 8 and 8a, the direction of inclination being opposite to that of the upper inclined chute As indfoatel 'n `Figs. 5 and 6, a seiies of marbles may be, and is preferably, employed te operate the bucket, though it will Vbe understood that devices or material other than vmar-.bles may. be` used without in Vany way departing from the Spirit and scope of my invention. Normallytheinarblesl() inV the chut-e 13 areheld in readiness for action by a. discharge'control-.means positioned in the herren .Seid means Comprising e rivoted hoop 36 having opposed arms 39 adapted to firsthold and then receive the marbles in succession, as indicatedv in Figs. 5 and 6, and a trigger or trip member 37 depending eX- ternally ofthe. hopper in position to be actuated bythe impact of the bucket upon elevation nf the latter by the counterweight 29, the body portion 3S of the trigger `forming the pivot of the hoop and being. mounted for oscillatory movement from the side walls 0f 'the Chute. f fh -wn4 The banket has its ilmet- Sid eeen and. is formed in its base with an opening 4i Yin whichV the marblerests during the 'descent of the' bucket, so that when theV bucket reaches the position shown.4 in Figf 4 the member 26 passing through opening 41, operates through the ninstrume'ntality V`ot its inclined finger 26? to eject, the marble through the opening side ofthe bucket onto the track 31 and from thence into the storage pocket 32, where the marbles are succes. sively stored in readiness for the reloading of the inclined upper lchute 13,

lith the parts 'positioned as described and shown, and assuming that al number of' marbles have been placed in the chute 13 in order to operate theytoynthe first marble of the series will be encircled and held in the passage 14a by the discharge control member 36asslliown in (i, while the trigger 37, occupying the inclined position indicated in Figfl, is" in readiness to be tripped by the arm 27 in the upward flight of' the bucket. Upon being tripped the member V86 moves verticallyon its aXisBS and frees the marble in the passage, which, under the vguidance of the inclined wall 14CV is directed in movement toward and into the bucket when it rests, during the ensuing descent of the rejectment of the marble from the bucket in the manner hereto-fore described, the counterweight in turn descends and theV bucket Arises to again actuate the discharge control` as before, and this automatic movement of' the bucket may be continued so long as a n marble remains in the loading chute. During the actuation of the discharge mcn'ibe f1 36 immediately subsequent to. the release of a niarble, it moves onV a short arc with Vsui-v Helene fein@ te administer a kiek t0. the man bles in reserve, conferring a measure of mo-VV bility upon them to insure that Wllllout failV the lowest marble in the seriesv .will inevitably @entete into. said member in readiness for discharge,

A s lpreviously indicated, granular materiel, other than marbles; may be substituted, and have heretofore been ein@ DlQ'yCl in gravit-v Oplfeted toys as is well lin/Own to those Skilledv in the art, and acs cordingly l wish it to be understood that any use of the. term' materiel by me includes marbles or any equivalent means which may be use@ to impart movement by gravity to the bucket, Neither do l intend toy restrict. myself to the exact cnnstnwton 0f details 01T t0 the premise arrensenfient ci" thevariousparts as modifications and adaptation thereof may be made without in' ver departing .tem the Spirit and' Scene oi' thev claims.

As a further yadvantage,ous feature of my invention projecting parts/of the toy may` bev readily dissociated in onder to attain 'a small'A compassfor .purposes of packing for shipment or storage whennot in use.A Forr example the ,pocket hoop 33 may be disengaged f'1'^omthe lugs 34 by simply spreading the spring arms 33r sufficiently apart to clear them. .pimilarly, the crosshead l() may be easily removed or detached from the supporting frame by slightly l springing apart the flanges llso that the slotstherein are freed: from therebent portions 12. Upon` disengagement ofi the cross-head, the inclinedv chute' 13-1nay beV easily removed by first reileasing the pivoted arms 15 and then by moving. the chutey on an arc in an upward direction between the standards until it assumes a vertical position whereupon the keyhole slots' 18 permit disengagement from the vertical cross-.bar 19.

'While forming no part of this invention, the oscillatorynnovement imparted to; theI wheel 20 by the opposing movement of the bucketV and counterweightniay be ad vantageously converted into` a continuous forward rotary movementl of a wind-'mill devicesr and` 42, the mean-s by which this iS accomplished being incorporated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 211,342.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A mechanical toy comprising in combination, a base, a pair of inverted substantially U-shaped supporting guideways having their upper ends bent laterally, a crosshead provided with slotted, terminal portions adapted to be sprung over the laterally bent ends of the supporting guideways, the cross-head having a revoluble member mounted thereon, a flexible driving member for the revoluble member, and devices connected with said driving member movable in the supporting guideways.

2. A mechanical toy comprising a base and a frame comprising two pairs of upright rods having their lower terminals mounted on said base, the rods of each pair having their upper ends bent and joined, a crosshead detachably engaging said bent and joined ends and provided with a revoluble member, a bucket and a counter-weight sup ported by said revoluble member and mounted for opposed vertical movement on said rods, a removable inclined chute having its inner end disposed immediately below said cross-head and positioned between the said pairs of rods, said chute adapted upon removal to swing upwardly and intermediately past said joined ends upon detachment of said cross-head from the frame, discharge controlling means for said chute -inner end whereby said chute delivers to the bucket when the latter is elevated by the counterweight, and a flexible connection for the bucket and counter-weight extending through said bent upper ends and past said discharge controlling means.

3. In a toy, the combination of a frame comprising opposed pairs of upright rods, the rods of each pair joined at their upper ends and bent laterally, a cross-head therefor having slotted dependent marginal flanges designed to be sprung over said bent upper ends and provided with a revoluble member, and actuating means for said revolube member including devices oppositely slidable on said pairs of rods and a flexible connection therefor extending through the slots in the cross-head.

et. In a toy, the combination of a frame comprising opposed pairs of upright rods, the rods of each pair joined at their upper ends and bent and rebent laterally, a crosshead for said frame having slotted portions detachably engaging said rebent upper ends and provided with a revoluble member having a flexible driving member passed through the slotted portions, and devices movable relatively of said frame connected with said driving member.

5. .A mechanical toy comprising in combination, a base, a "pair of inverted substantially U-shaped supporting guideways, a detachable cross-head provided with terminal portions adapted to be sprung over the ends of the U-shaped supporting guideways, the cross-head having a revoluble member mounted thereon, a flexible driving member for the revoluble member, and devices connected with said driving member movable in the supporting guideways.

6. A mechanical toy comprising in combination, a base, a pair of inverted, parallel, substantially U-shaped guideways, a crosshead, having a revoluble member mounted thereon, at the top of said guideways, a ilexible driving member for the revoluble member, a counter-balance and a bucket connected with said driving member and movable one in each of the supporting guideways, a removable inclined chute having its inner end disposed below the cross head, discharge controlling means for said chute inner end, and a hopper portion depending from the chute inner end having a laterally inclined delivery channel directed to deliver between the sides of the guideway to the bucket when the latter is elevated by the counter-balance.

7. A toy comprising in combination a base, a pair of inverted substantially U-shaped supports, a cross-head provided with terminal portions adapted to be sprung over the upper ends of the inverted U-shaped supports, a counter-weight and a bucket movable vertically one on each of the U-shaped supports, the bucket having an opening in the bottom thereof, a chute adapted to deliver to the bucket when in upper' position, and ejecting means on the base adapted to operate through the bottom of the bucket when the latter descends.

BENJAMIN F. BAIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

